Yamaha DXL1K Initial Thoughts - Kinda Sorta
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- unboxing and initial testing / thoughts of the Yamaha DXL1K - not the stagepas 1k mkii.
a Yamaha DBR10 is used in the video too along with an mg10xu mixer and a Sennheiser e835 mic.
Hey man, I'm currently having trouble deciding between some array speakers. The DXL1K's seem to be the best prices/brand name option out there, compared to the Evolve 50 for example with the Yamaha DXL being $700 Canadian cheaper than the EV 50. The quoted SPL in the literature is 125 dB for the DXL and 127 for the EV 50 - so not a major difference on paper in SPL, but definitely a major difference in $$$ (especially considering i'd like to get a pair).
I was reading through the DXL1K manual and came across a line in the manual that set off a little light in my head; I remembered how you had commented to another poster in this video comment section that you may not have set the DXL1K up properly. I decided to read the manual to see what the recommended set up might be for connecting an external mixer.
So the DXL1K manual says the following regarding the Link Input Jack: "This jack supports an XLR-type plug. An input signal is output directly from the speaker. To control the tone and volume level of the signal, use a connected STAGEPAS 1K mkII or mixing console."
However the wording to describe the Link input Jack in the StagePas 1K MkII manual is quite different: "This jack supports an XLR-type plug. Connect the [LINK] output jack of the
STAGEPAS 1K mkII to the [LINK] input jack of a second unit (another STAGEPAS 1K mkII or a DXL1K) (see page 13 “Playing audio in stereo”). We recommend that you use this jack if you plan to input a line-level signal from an external device such as a mixing console."
The last sentence being the important section. I am thinking that you might have just plugged into channel 1 and set it to Line signal instead of using the Link Input which is apparently what Yamaha recommends but FAIL to include this vital senstence in the the DXL1K manual..
I dunno, it just seems weird to me that there would be so much trouble with clipping the inputs for you... perhaps the double gain staging of the input gain on your mixer into the input gain of the DXL mic/Line input (instead of the Link Input which goes direct to the speakers) was your trouble?
I wish I had one to test this theory. There's no inventory anywhere near me but I'd sure love to save myself $1400 CAD on a pair of DXL's as opposed to the Evolve 50's which still would still require an extra soft cover purchase on top for each sub...
Can you remember if you plugged into the mic/line channel 1 or the Link Input?
Thanks man, New sub here. really liking your channel coverage of the Evolve stuff. Wish you would hung onto the DXL for a couple weeks longer!! - Richard
@@TheJamSpace hey thanks for the sub. You know what? You may be absolutely right on what you wrote to me. I went back and peeked at my video and I guess I don't remember if I was using the link input or not when I played through the mixer and I see I for sure used it when I was talking through the mic. To be honest with you, I may have been using input number one again instead of the link input which would definitely have been a mistake on my end according to what you wrote. I think I ultimately became frustrated with the dxl because I wanted the original stagepas 1K to work out but I just wasn't happy with the output. I had high hopes for the DXL because I guess I'm a Yamaha fanboy but maybe I didn't take the time to read the manual good enough.
Honestly, dang you may be absolutely right, I wish I would have tried that link input and I doubt that I did because I thought maybe that was just for linking the first stagepas into it but as the manual states possibly a mixing console. Ironically, I was literally sitting here looking at column systems once again when I received your message. I like the physical controls on the stagepas 1K mkii and would prefer them to being forced to menu dive if I did not use a device to control it. I'm sure I had input one on line when I ran the mixer into it but maybe it would have definitely done better using the link input.
Thanks again for the the heads up on this man! I'm definitely going to have to check into this a little later tonight. I will tell you though, out of all the column systems I've owned, I probably liked the original evolve 50 the best output and sound quality wise. I'll probably pull up the manual for the DXL and the 1K mkii a little bit later and give it a good read. Thanks again and let me know if you have any other questions and good luck deciding!
Oh on another note I have switched back to using Yamaha dxr10 mkiis since last October or November I think and have been totally happy with them but again I was currently looking into a column speaker again.
There is also a chart on both the StagePas 1K MKII and the DXL1K manuals that states "input level Max Before Clipping": +16dBU for channel 1 Line inputs compared to +24dBU for the Link Input.
@@TheJamSpace Thanks so much for that info. I'm going to have to take a look at that chart too and compare it to the dxr literature if it has that same information. My wheels are spinning now!
@@JHGurganus You bet. Yeah, the Max Before Clipping numbers are the same for 1K MKII and DXL1K.
Edit: Oh, DXR, right. yeah, please share your findings :)
@@TheJamSpacewell, I'm looking at them right now and it looks like the XLR inputs on the DXRs and DBRs are also +24dbu for line level which I feed from either my mg10xu or CQ-18T. I'm thinking I failed on testing the DXL and maybe if I would've used the link input I may have had a different outcome.
If I'm reading the stereo outputs on the mg10xu and CQ-18T correctly, the Yamaha puts out +24 and the Allen & Heath puts out +22.
I really appreciate you pointing that out. Honestly I never thought of that and I wish I would've read the manual. I guess I'm so used to plugging into regular 2 way powered tops that I didn't even think about the DXLs being different. I know when I had my evolves I plugged my mixer into channel 1 with no problem and got great sound quality and output. Thanks again...
OMG you had me in absolute tears with that $150 comment just before Christmas!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Keep up the great work and don't forget to include the humour!
Haha thx!! I only wish I had the natural humor of some of these other RUclipsrs! But I have to be honest with you I do like the $150 comment myself - of course knowing how much these things really are 😇
@@JHGurganus I've told my better half a few furfies myself over the years when she finally works out that there's a new piece of gear in my studio. I've even commented that I've always had that piece of new equipment and that she's only noticed it now! 😂😂😂😂
@@madness8556 thats great. I may need to borrow that line if you don't mind!!
Scary thing is mine don't really care what I buy so I struggle to keep myself in check 😇👍
How does the DXL1K compare to the Evolve 30m I'm leaning towards the 1K mkII.
I was originally leaning towards the DXL1K all the way but things did not work out with it so I returned it a couple of days later. As you probably saw I have the 30M now and I have no plans on getting rid of it. Since we are just 2 vocals and 1 guitar I did not compare low end but clean SPL output wise the 30m easily gets my vote - so more output in my testing, the mixer and the fact that it's lighter as well are three easy reasons why I'm keeping the 30M.
If you have any specific questions on either one let me know but output wise the 30M is what I'm keeping.
@videoboris no problem. As I continued my testing, I found that the input channels on the DXL1K itself seemed to clip really early. To avoid this I had to leave the channel volume on it really low and raise the master volume a lot but that would take away a lot of the output since the volume channel had to be somewhat low.
I was using the same mixer that I've used for years for small shows of about 30 people up to hundreds of people outdoors with my DXR12 cabinets. With that mixer I was using the same gain staging as I always have and I confirmed there was no clipping at the mixer. To give it a fair shot, I re-gainstaged my mixer a different way but I still ended up with a lower perceived SPL from the DXL1K from what I had expected. I know this sounds crazy but if I remember correctly there was one point I could have my mixer almost maxed out and I think I had the DXL1Ks volume maxed (low channel input / high master volume - no clipping) and I could still have a conversation with somebody about 7or 8 feet away from it - a loud conversation but still.
Now it sounded good as expected but I planned to use it for small to medium indoor gigs as well as a lot of our outside gigs (just not our big outside gigs). Unfortunately I did not feel that it was going to work out for our situation. Maybe it would have but I did not feel good about keeping it based on the weight, the price and the output.
I will admit I don't have that much experience real world with column arrays although I have owned two evolve 50s before and gigged with them for a short time. I do understand how the sound spreads though at lower SPLs so I tried to keep that in mind.
As soon as I got the evolve 30M and put some live vocals and guitar through it I knew I had made the right decision. The 30M seems to have all the volume on tap that I'm seeking (at it's size and price point) for what I described above with some headroom left over. That and the fact it's a smaller lighter 10" sub along with the built-in mixer and great phone app are the reasons that I'm going to stick with the 30M at this point. Our first gig with it is not until the 28th though of this month.
If you have any more questions don't hesitate to let me know. Maybe I messed up somewhere in my testing but I have found if I have to work too hard to make something else work maybe it's not the right piece of gear for me. Stunk that it didn't work out - and all of this is coming from a Yamaha guy!
@videoboris you are very welcome and maybe I missed something on the DXL1K but I will also remember that in 2019 I had the original stagepas and had to return it due to lack of SPL and headroom for my intended purpose. With the 170° dispersion a friend of mine told me that it dropped off really quick at a certain distance but I also understand that's what it was designed for but it didn't meet my goals. I also remember that unit clipping earlier than I would have liked with the onboard mixer . That's when I ultimately ended up with the evolve 50s. In my experience of a few column arrays, the evolve 50s have been the most point source speaker like array I have had.
And yes I've been using Yamaha PA since my first gigging days and been very happy except unfortunately for their column systems. For reference, I have had the original DXR10s, the DXR12s and the DXS15 subs. I sold each of those to people I know who still use them and now I have a pair of the DBR10s due to the lighter weight and a pair of the DXR12mkiis. I purchased the DXR12mkiis specifically to cover our large indoor 300 person plus type gigs and our outdoor festival or concert in the park type gigs. I'm actually thinking at our festival and concert in the park deal this year I may use the 30M as a mixer / monitor and feed the two DXR12s with it. That will save me some wiring and the extra mixer.
If you do try out the new stagepas or the DXL1K let me know how it goes if you would please. Maybe I screwed up on my end but I had to trust my gut on this one. Also, not sure if you saw but Yamaha put out a press release yesterday that they are releasing a new stagepas 200. Looks like a small little coaxial deal with a battery powered option. Not sure if I have a use for it but I'm going to keep checking into it.
Let me know!
@videoboris sounds good and good luck on the new guitar. Yeah thanks for letting me know if you do get any of it I'd be curious to hear your thoughts as well. Take care
Old DBR put that new Tech from Yamaha to shame!
I run my EV30 easily on an external battery source if you want info on that?
Yes it sure did didn't it?
Actually yeah I would like some info on an external battery source. I've watched some of your stuff but never wrote down the external battery brands. What would you suggest to run the evolve 30m on battery in case I ever needed to?
We do a ton of bar metal shows. I would be worried about someone falling into that and snapping it off
Yes valid concern. I'm still worried about someone toppling over a speaker stand. 6 to 1 I guess.
😂😂😂😂😂😂 150 hahahaaha cmamo el vato jajajaja
Glad you liked that!